2. Two lovers and X-mas breakfast
Harry awoke in the middle of the night. Something felt strange, not as it used to. His right hand side was cold - in fact he was naked and his bedclothes seemed somehow to be missing. His left side was on the contrary very warm indeed, but he could not move it. Something heavy hindered him. Memory returned slowly - Hermione was sleeping in his bed. The light from the window was cold and white - It had been snowing for two days but it had cleared up in the afternoon. It must be the moon shining on the snow.
Yes - Hermione. He remembered now. He and Hermione had finally after all these years confessed their love for each other. They had been kissing - the entire evening in fact. And eventually, they had ended up in Harry's bed - and yes, they had had sex. Harry moved his free arm around Hermione. It felt great. She moved slightly in her sleep and snuggled up closer. Happiness was Harry's strongest reaction, but his left arm felt awkward. He had no feeling in it at all.
Hermione - his best friend; a girl sleeping in his bed. His mind had difficulty with this fact. It had finally happened. Many fantasies and thoughts had revolved around this event, and now it had happened. With Hermione. His best friend. But actually, she had been equally hesitant, and willing, as he had been. And they were still friends when they went to sleep. In each other's arms. It had been great. For Hermione as well.
More memories - Harry and Hermione had been alone in the Gryffindor tower for the last few days. This was the night before Christmas day. All other students had left for the vacation. Harry had always spent his Christmas vacation in school, and actually so had Hermione. In the first years, she and Ron had stayed to keep Harry company, but the last two years Ron had spent his vacation with his family. This year they had gone to visit Charlie in Romania. Charlie had had an accident with some dragon. Nothing serious, but they had taken the opportunity to visit and cheer him up.
Nothing had indicated that Hermione shouldn't stay for Christmas, but when her parents had just told her they were going on vacation in some exotic country without asking her to come along, she had been very upset.
Harry had the last term had a relation with Luna Lovegood in Ravenclaw. He had found that everyone thought her somewhat peculiar and made fun of her. He had felt sorry for her and treated her as his girlfriend and taken her to Hogsmeade on Saturdays and so on. In the beginning he liked her company. They had many things in common, but after a while he found it hard to stand her blind acceptance of every outrageous theory that could be read in the Quibbler, the magazine her father edited. They had finally agreed that they were friends, but not more than that.
When Harry had confided his thoughts on Luna to Hermione, she had only curtly replied that he had to solve 'his girl affairs' himself. Her unwillingness to discuss this made Harry think. Generally, they had always been able to talk about everything. Hermione had e.g. not avoided speaking with Harry on her problem with Viktor Krum who still wrote letters to her telling her his love. She found it more and more embarrassing, since for one thing she had more been flattered than in love, and it was now several years since they had last seen each other. But why would she not discuss Harry's problems?
All in all, Hermione's mood had the last weeks been miserable. Harry knew that he probably was the only one that noticed because she usually kept up her facade. He had got to know her ways better that anyone else, and when she was unhappy, he always tried to cheer her up. The last weeks though to no avail.
But when the sky had cleared yesterday, Harry had finally managed to get Hermione up and going for a walk in the snow. They had had great fun, building a snowman, getting wet and cold, and finally ending up in a snow slide. They had found each other laughing in a big embrace in the snow. Their sudden closeness had been embarrassing for them both, but it had also been revealing and the miserable mood was broken.
They had returned in their wet clothes to get warm and dry in front of the fire in the common room. In that intimate atmosphere, things began to fall in place. Harry was good at knowing the feelings of other people. Somehow he knew the root of the problem of Hermione and himself. The final obstacle was: Was this going to ruin their friendship with Ron and what was to come after this final step? During the evening they had admitted this to each other: Their friendship had ripened into love, and they would have to take the news to Ron in due course.
Harry smiled at the thought of Ron. At the last instant Hermione had suddenly remembered they had no protection, so Harry had borrowed a pack of condoms from Ron. Ron had grown to be very interested in girls generally, but Harry didn't think he had got any further than the planning stages. Harry hoped Ron would take the news of him and Hermione in a good way.
Harry's thoughts returned to the present; he felt he had to do something about his left arm. He started to pull it out from under Hermione's sleeping body trying to avoid waking her up, but without success. When his limp arm got free, Hermione awoke with a start.
"Sorry Hermione, I have to go to the bathroom," Harry whispered. "I will be back soon - please stay." He reached out his right hand and stroked her cheek tenderly.
"Oh Harry, what have we done?" Harry saw in the moonlight Hermione blushing, instantly wide awake.
"We did the absolutely right thing, Hermione. I'm blissfully happy; I love you, and now I have no problem saying it!" Harry bent down and kissed her.
"Yes Harry, I love you too. But it's overwhelming, sort of," Hermione said looking him in his eyes.
"Yes, it is. Overwhelming is the word. - Coming back soon." Harry stood up, trying to flex his numb arm, and walked quickly out of the room.
Harry discarded the used condom and went for a short shower to freshen up. He had to wait for the warm water though, giving him time to think back. - He had finally done it! He had had sex with a girl. He would never forget the feeling of the final moment, when he had entered her fully, feeling the tight warmth enveloping him. His entire body and soul had been on fire because of an inrush of feelings and new sensations. She had held him in a tight grip with both her arms and legs keeping them joined in an unbelievingly intimate way. He felt somehow that that one moment would change his life - this was something that could not be made undone.
He also remembered the feeling of curiosity and awe some moments earlier when she had revealed herself to his hands, lips and eyes. Somehow Hermione's knowledge from her books had been a help - she obviously knew what was happening. Giggling she had helped him understand the use of a condom. And then she had without hesitation guided him to her entrance. She had enjoyed the experience, Harry felt assured of that, but the final step had meant pain for her; he had to check on it. Harry finished his shower and returned to his room. He met Hermione carrying the sheets from Harry's bed in her arms.
When Harry left for the bathroom, Hermione's mind had been drifting in the same way as Harry's did. She'd finally done it. She had had sex with a boy. It had been sooner than she had thought likely, but it had been with Harry. She had for quite some time felt a special closeness to him so the last step of opening her soul - and body - to him had been rather natural. She smiled at her memory of his first feel of her breasts; shyness and curiosity had been competing in his face. He had regained some of his self-assuredness in the last moments. The memory of his last long and powerful strokes into her was amazing and curiously arousing. They had asserted themselves as unmistakably male and female, and she had claimed Harry as her man. There would be no way back from that fact. - But it had hurt initially. She had to examine the bedclothes. Finding them stained with blood, Hermione got up from the bed removing the soiled sheets from the bed. She met Harry in the corridor.
"I will leave these for washing. I have left some blood stains on them" Hermione said with a shy smile. "Nothing serious," she added when she saw Harry's anxious face. "You know this is quite normal for a girl the first time. - There are clean sheets in the cupboard in the corridor outside my room." Hermione had regained some of her business-like air.
Harry fetched the new sheets and went to his room to remake his bed. When ready, he hesitated for an instant before deciding to climb into the bed without his pyjamas. The clean sheets felt cold to his naked body. The room now bathed in the strong light from the full moon. Would Hermione return?
Harry's thoughts returned to Hermione. He really loved her. Her businesslike attitude in difficult situations was great. He felt confidence that they would manage their new relation without awkwardness.
Hermione looked at herself in the mirror of the bathroom. She saw the same girl she used to see. There were no outside signs she was no longer a virgin. When trying to see herself with Harry's eyes, she had to admit that her body actually curved in those directions one could expect. She put the shower on and started to clean the smears of blood from the inside of her thighs. When the water reached the inside of the folds of her sex, she felt a burning pain. There were surely some open wounds there. Her scientific mind searched the origin of the pain. It was as she expected. The entrance of her vagina had changed. It was wider and honestly felt very sore. She prescribed celibacy for the next few hours.
After Harry had waited a few minutes, Hermione returned, dressed in a towel. She abandoned it and hastily joined Harry in the bed. For a breathtaking moment, he got a view of her naked. How could he have missed the fact that Hermione had got a very womanly body? She immediately got on top of Harry, giving him a great hug and a long, very long, kiss. Harry kissed back while his hands roamed up and down her spine. His mind raced at the feeling of her warm and soft body pressed to his. Her legs entwined with his, her breasts pressing against his chest and the soft hairs of her groin against his hip. This felt like heaven. Both were getting rather aroused.
Hermione broke their kissing. "We have to wait, Harry", she said. "It did hurt a bit, and I feel rather sore down … you know. I think we should try to wait some time. I'm sorry, it did feel wonderful, Harry, and I have absolutely no regrets."
"Oh," Harry had some difficulty catching his breath. "Hermione, I'm sorry. I didn't want you to get hurt." Harry caught her in his arms lying on his back, rocking her slightly from side to side, talking softly into her hair.
"Harry, it's something quite natural. In fact, I wanted it like that. - But there is a wound and I think it should heal before we do it - We have a whole li … - I mean we can do it several times, later."
"Hermione Granger." After some minutes of silence, Harry whispered her name.
"Yes, what?"
"I have difficulty believing what has happened. Hermione Granger, the smartest witch at Hogwarts, the girl I admire most, my best friend and the future Head Girl is lying here in my bed with me."
Hermione shifted her body slightly which caused Harry to emit a hiss. She giggled. "You are a great gentleman Harry, standing at attention, guarding my entrance."
"You are deliberately teasing me."
With a sigh, Harry moved so they both lay on their sides, facing each other. He stroked her hair, gazing into her dark eyes. "Hermione, I have been thinking. In all great moments in my life, you have been playing a major part. I mean in finding the philosopher's stone, in the chamber of secrets, finding Sirius, the Triwizard Tournament, and now when I lost my virginity. Always. Will you be there in the future as well?"
"What are you thinking about?" she asked, looking back at him.
"Killing Voldemort, getting married, having kids …" Harry said teasingly.
Hermione gave a gasp, but quickly found her equilibrium. "Silly, we can't know of these things. My planning calendar doesn't go that far."
Harry chuckled and gave her an extra hug. They were still friends, huddled together in a big empty stone tower. But they were also something new - they were lovers. Their breathing had returned back to normal. Without knowing when, they both fell asleep.
----
The next conscious instant, Harry stared into the same brown eyes, but this time of a fully dressed and quite awake Hermione.
"Good morning and Merry Christmas! There is breakfast served for two in the common room, and our Christmas presents are there as well. And we are invited to Christmas dinner at six. And we should go to the library as soon as we have finished breakfast. I have an idea, I will explain later, and we could go for a walk after lunch, it is a lovely weather outside."
Hermione was quite clearly in excellent spirits. Harry smiled at her enthusiasm. This was the Hermione he had known for many ears - the Hermione making plans - the Hermione he had learnt to value, respect, admire, fear - and love.
Harry reached up for her. In an instant she was in his arms.
"You OK?"
"I'm fine, Harry. - And happy. I will sit carefully though. You're a big boy." Harry was astonished at her bold remark. But really, this was Hermione. She could take great strides at times.
Hermione went down to the common room where Harry soon joined her. They were both ravenous having forgot about food last evening. Harry scooped up a large portion of scrambled eggs and bacon together with buttered toast and tea. Hermione's helpings were not much smaller.
Harry found the invitation card, which read:
Hermione Granger
&
Harry Potter
Are kindly invited to
X-mas dinner at 6 pm.
Albus Dumbledore
"How come we are invited together on the same card?" said Harry. "I'm positive we had separate cards last year. Does he already know?"
"I remember Ron's dad said once: 'Doesn't miss a trick, that man'", answered Hermione. "I think this is his way of telling us he is not angry with us."
"But how can he know?"
"If that map of yours can know where everyone is, surely Professor Dumbledore can know if he is interested. Perhaps he found out we were in the same room, in the same bed. He then added up the sum."
"Maybe. So he's not angry. But why tell us he knows?"
"I think he knows us and understand we are serious about our relation. After last night, we both know how we stand, right? And if we are serious, we shouldn't try to hide it. That may be his message." Harry looked silently at Hermione and nodded, accepting her logic.
While Harry finished the last remains of food on the breakfast table, Hermione started to open her first present.
"Look, my parents have sent me a mobile phone! They write that they are sorry we have had so little contact during terms. Talking on the phone is so much more personal." She displayed proudly the contents of the box. "When do you think I can call them without being in the middle of the night or something?"
"Well" Harry answered. "How do you charge the battery here at Hogwarts, and are you sure you reach the network from here. Can such muggle devices operate here? I am sorry if I sound negative, but …"
"Oh …" Hermione sounded dejected for some seconds. "Wait! There is an electric outlet in the 'Muggle studies' classroom. And I saw minister Fudge showing off his mobile phone when he was here at the end of last term. It did work for him."
"Why, that is a strength we might make us of," said Harry softly to himself. Hermione didn't hear or comment this though. She sorted out the charger from the box, making certain that no important items were left in the wrapping papers before throwing them aside.
Two parcels from Mrs. Weasley were next.
"I think I know what this is", said Harry.
"You don't", answered Hermione. "I gave Molly some hints this summer, and I think these will come more useful than before."
This was indeed the case; they each got a nice black cardigan knitted very fine. They both had an 'H' as an emblem on their left side; Harry's was in dark blue, Hermione's in dark red.
"People will see that we belong together", Harry said, blowing a kiss to Hermione, who started to blush nicely before looking for the next parcel.
"This is our presents from Ron", Hermione tossed a thin but rather large parcel to Harry. She had already started to open her own.
"My, this is funny. It is a calendar with Quiddich players from the Chudley Cannons. They are rather cute, but they have little clothes on. Look, here is Oliver Wood. He's got rather muscular, I think." Hermione sat giggling in her chair, leafing through her calendar.
"Yeah. Thank you Ron, this is good! I see Angelina Johnson is on the team now. Wonder if Fred had any say in this. And wow …"
"What?" Hermione shouted.
"You know, the Chudley Cannons is a mixed team and they have a women's team as well. Didn't you know?" answered Harry with a big grin on his face.
"Harry Potter! You are not going to put up a girlie calendar in your room, are you?" Hermione objected.
"I think you put up your calendar in your wardrobe, and I put up my in mine", Harry said, looking a blushing Hermione in her eyes.
"I … I think this is rather innocent really," said Hermione meekly, throwing a parcel to Harry.
"This is for you!" "To Harry with Love from Hermione" it said on the label.
"I have a present for you", Harry said, removing I little packet from inside his robes.
Harry had got at white shirt together with a dark blue tie. The tie had figures of Madame Mim and the wizard Merlin throwing spells at each other.
"Thank you, now I know what to wear at dinner tonight," said Harry smiling at Hermione. She had just opened her gift. Her first reaction was silence. Then she threw herself onto Harry's lap.
"Harry, my love. This is too much. It must have cost a fortune," she whispered with tears in her eyes. The contents had proved to be a golden necklace.
"Let me put it around your neck." When that was done, Harry gave Hermione a great hug and was rewarded with a long kiss. She didn't let go of the embrace.
"Thank you, but you shouldn't …"
Harry held her for a long time and then started to whisper in her ear:
"I bought it in Diagon Alley. I had been to Gringotts signing a lot of documents when I inherited Sirius. I felt so miserable and alone and then I thought I would like to buy something for you."
"Harry, you are not alone any more!" Hermione answered, wiping away the tears in Harry's eyes. She remained in his lap, hugging and kissing him for a long time.